Sermon for Sunday, July 6th, 2025 at First Presbyterian Church at Unionville, NY (BPC)
Old Testament Reading:
[Psa 107:1-20 ESV] 1 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! 2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble 3 and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. 4 Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in; 5 hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them. 6 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 7 He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in. 8 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! 9 For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things. 10 Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons, 11 for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High. 12 So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor; they fell down, with none to help. 13 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart. 15 Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! 16 For he shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron. 17 Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction; 18 they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death. 19 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 20 He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.
New Testament Reading:
[Eph 3:1-6 ESV] 1 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles– 2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. 4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
Gospel Reading:
[Luk 7:1-10 ESV] 1 After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2 Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. 3 When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, 5 for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” 6 And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. 8 For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 9 When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” 10 And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.
Sermon Text:
[Mat 8:5-13 ESV] 5 When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, 6 “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” 7 And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8 But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. 11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12 while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.
Introduction
The faith of the centurion is a marvelous faith. At his faith, Jesus marvels.
There is a miraculous healing of a paralyzed man. Such is an amazing event.
But it is the faith of the centurion on which Matthew focuses.
The Centurion is a Gentile – most likely a Roman or possibly a foreigner working for the Romans who has achieved that rank in their army. You know the term “century;” meaning “one hundred years.” Well, a centurion in the Roman army is a ruler of 100 soldiers. That was at least the original meaning. Rome has some inflation problems too, and so the century of soldiers was often reduced to less than 100 men. Regardless of the exact number of soldiers taking orders from him, a centurion is a powerful figure; a leader and a person of considerable might.
Yet, the centurion is a gentile. And Jews don’t associate with gentiles.
Most Jews, that is. But Jesus is counter-cultural; he follows the word of God not the word of man. So he associates with all sorts of people. We saw how he healed a leper; even touching him. Now, we find Jesus talking with a Centurion.
There is some debate about this passage because we have a similar one in Luke’s Gospel. The apparent discrepancy with whether, as some thing Matthew implies, Jesus spoke DIRECTLY with the centurion, or whether, as in Luke’s Gospel, they spoke THROUGH an intermediary sent by the centurion. In Luke the centurion sends “elders of the Jews” to speak with Jesus for him. And a good way to reconcile the passages is to indeed says “the centurion sent elders of the Jews to Jesus” whereas Matthew, in a sort of shorthand way says “the centurion spoke with Jesus.” This is a perfectly reasonable solution, as we often do the same. For example, I’ve been trying for sometime to have the Village of Unionville be awarded the status of an official Appalachian Trail Community with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. And, to make a long story short, our State Representative is involved in the discussion as well. So I have said “I spoke to my State Representatives” when indeed some of the communication has been through his assistance who is acting on his behalf.
The centurion, who we’ll find has “a marvelous faith,” may, as a Gentile, have been respecting Jesus by not going to Him directly but sending Jewish elders.
So it is that Jesus spoke to the centurion through an intermediary, for at least part of the communication. But, as Matthew conveys the story without the intermediaries, don’t fault me if I do likewise as I explain our test and apply it to our lives.
There is the centurion, and then there is his servant; an even lower power in the eyes of the Jews.
But Jesus will heal THE SERVANT of the CENTURION. Of all people! The Jews might say “Isn’t there someone more deserving? Or someone holier that you could focus your attention on?”
But Jesus came not “for the Jews.” He came for all people (Jew and Gentile) who have faith in Him. That explains why Jesus is listening to and interacting with such people as these: lepers, gentiles, even servants.
And at the very end, almost in passing, the author Matthew says “And the servant was healed at that very moment.” A miracle. Yet Matthew spends more time focusing on the marvelous faith of the centurion and the response of Christ.
I. Four Statements
There is a dialogue in our passage. A give and take.
1-2-3-4 statements.
The centurion speaks.
Jesus speaks.
The centurion speaks again.
Jesus speaks again.
And I submit that these statements are rising in intensity, importance, and perhaps even wisdom.
A. The centurion speaks. (v. 6)
First, the centurion speaks.
The centurion, like the leper doesn’t tell Jesus what to do. He just states a fact.
6 “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.”
It is remarkable that he’s asking about someone else; and even a servant. A callous man would just say “I can get another servant.” “I’m not spending my time or risking my reputation to help a servant.”
But, like the leper, the centurion has humility.
That might be the one most prominent characteristic between the Christian and non-Christian, the believer and the unbeliever. Humility. The world today is full of brash characters; and they are told in the worldly spirit to consider themselves great. The world calls it self-confidence; but it really is a lack of humility.
That is one indication of the place (the status) of the centurion. He cares for others. Then, from Luke’s account we see something else noted of him. He doesn’t say it himself; the Jewish elders say it. In praise of the centurion they say “he is the one who built us our synagogue.” So he is a proselyte; a gentile believer. Or, at the last, he is kind to the Jews in building them a synagogue. This must mean that he financed the building of the synagogue; either he put up the money or he used his soldiers to physically build it. So he is a good character, and the Jews state that fact so that Jesus might listen to his plea to heal his servant.
B. Jesus Speaks (v. 7)
Now, in response, we have the first time Jesus speaks. He continues on like in the previous miracle, with a will to heal.
7 And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.”
Why does Jesus agree to heal the paralyzed servant? I don’t think it is so much because the centurion is a good guy. More likely, it is because healing is what Jesus does. In fact, I don’t think he ever turns down any request for healing. Instead, he heals so that they might later say:
[Mat 11:4-5 ESV] 4 “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and THE LAME WALK, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.
C. The centurion speaks again. (v. 8-9)
This would then be just another miraculous healing.
But here is where the story take a surprising turn when “the centurion speaks again.”
This is one of those few instances in the Bible where a person truly looks good. We are all sinners; and I’m sure the centurion even was a sinner. But here he strikes a note of brilliance; a teacher would give him an A+. His response is almost like something Jesus would say; Jesus who applies things from everyday life to his parables. The centurion states an example from his life: vs 8-9
8 But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
Though the centurion is considered such a good person, he yet says “Lord I am not worthy to have you come under my roof.”
That is the humility of a believer. And it agrees with a profound truth that should be recognized. That is, while the world says “You Christians think you are better than others; holier than thou,” the reality is that TRUE Christians say “I am not worthy.” In fact, TRUE Christians, like Paul, say “I am the chief of sinners.” I don’t deserve anything! But, on Jesus Christ I rest my plea.
That is what the hymn rightly says: “God be merciful to me, on they grace I rest my plea.”
The centurion doesn’t say “I deserve your attention Jesus; so come heal my servant.” No, he says “I’m not worthy.”
But, then the real “kicker.” One of the greatest saying of any man apart Jesus.
but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
And I can just see a happy smile come upon the face of Christ. Perhaps he’s thinking “THIS GUY GETS IT.”
What does he get? He “gets” that Jesus is sent by God, and Jesus is powerful.
The “authority over Jesus” is that he is sent by God.
That which “under Christ authority, like soldiers” is his power. He can operate it at a distance.
D. Jesus speaks again. (v. 10-13)
So how does Jesus respond? He marveled at the faith of the centurion.
10 When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. 11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12 while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.”
Why is the centurion’s faith so marvelous.
Well, for one, it was greater (in kind) that anyone in Israel. Despite the fact that the Jews were given “the oracles of God” (i.e., the Old Testament), this Gentile man knew of the power of the Lord.
Also, he had humility about it.
And for his understanding of spiritual authority, the power of Christ.
The centurion had a marvelous faith. That is the focus of this passage no doubt. But there are other things also which we can learn from Jesus’s second respond.
1. Jealousy Narrative
This response of Jesus, as Matthew Henry says “speaks shame to Israel.” Christ came to his own, but his own did not believe. So we have a “jealousy narrative” of Matthew’s Gospel where Matthew is writing to the Jews, saying “Look what God is doing for the gentiles are you not jealous?” Won’t you too COME to the Lord?
“Many will come from east and west (the gentiles) and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.” Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are alive. And others from east and west are grafted in. “Israel,” true Israel is ALL the people of God whether Jew or Gentile.
But not all Jews are saved.
2. The Existence of Hell (v. 12)
Here we find proof of the existence of hell.
“the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
The “sons of the kingdom” are the Jews who do not believe.
And “outer darkness” is hell; a place of eternal torment.
It is often pointed out that Jesus speaks about hell more than anyone else in the Scriptures.
Yet we don’t know much about it.
Frankly, the details would probably overwhelm us.
But what we ought to know is that hell is what we deserve, while grace is what we get because of Christ. As Christ has mercy on the paralyzed servant, so he has grace upon all His people.
3. Faith is belief. (v. 10, 13)
Now, one more thing that can be learned in Jesus’s second response.
“Faith is belief.”
You’d be surprised to find that this is a controversial statement.
Many want faith to be something more than belief.
And indeed is more than saying “I believe;” it is truly believing! Hypocritical “faith” is not “saving faith;” it isn’t even faith.
But faith is belief.
That is clear in the Greek itself. When the noun “pistis” occurs in the Greek we say “faith.” (and occasionally it is translated as belief) And when the verb form “pisteuo” occurs in the Greek it is usually translated as “believing.” (We don’t have the word “faith-ing” in English)
So there is no difference in Greek between “faith” and “belief.”
We see the parallel in our passage.
In verse 10: And Jesus says “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such FAITH.”
Then in verse 13 he says “Go; let it be done for you as you have BELIEVED.”
And I’m so forceful, so pointed on this point that faith equals belief because it is of great importance. People are always trying to sneak in something in addition to salvation by faith/belief alone. But we believe in Sola Fide, the Latin term for “faith alone.” We do not contribute to our salvation. Salvation is not “believe in Jesus” plus prove yourself through works. No, salvation is of the grace of God alone and known through the gift of faith. Faith is not of our own accord, so that no one can boast.
So in the book of Acts we read:
[Act 16:31 ESV] 31 And they said, “BELIEVE in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
And Paul says likewise:
[Rom 4:5 ESV] 5 to the one who does not work but BELIEVES in him who justifies the ungodly, his FAITH is counted as righteousness,
Jesus doesn’t marvel at the centurions works (his building a synagogue), but he marvels at his faith.
Conclusion
That is the faith we should have. An astounding faith. The faith of a child; fully trusting in the Lord, but we knowledge added as we read more of the Word of God and grow even closer to Him.
How do you have that faith?
By the work of the Holy Spirit, when you read the Word of God, and come to believe that Jesus is Lord. If you believe that Jesus is Lord and that God raise him from the dead, you have astounding faith. It is astounding because it can only happen by the work of the Spirit. It is astounding because you have been called by the Lord, even though you were not worthy.
Praise be to God who calls the unworthy even to marvelous faith.